On the fourth death anniversary of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, his children, Hamid and Mukta Dhabolkar, gathered on 20 August at Pune’s Sadhana Centre to pay homage to his ideals and notions that he had upheld in his fight against blind faith and superstitions, reported India Today.

On 19 August, Hamid and Mukta Dabholkar led a candlelight protest at Shinde Bridge, where the rationalist was murdered. In Mumbai on 20 August, activists and representatives of various organizations took part in a ‘Nirbhay Rally’ to protest the murder of not only Dabholkar, but also another progressive thinker, Govind Pansare in Kolhapur, and rationalist, M.M. Kalburgi in Dharwad of Karnataka.

The similar modus operandi of all the three murders have led the activists to believe that it was a premeditated machination of eliminating all those who criticised superstition or right-wing fundamentalism.

It has been four years since Dabholkar was brutally murdered for his beliefs and even after this long span of time, his family awaits justice.

For the last four years, activists across the country have been observing the death anniversary of the rationalist by intensifying their “Jawab Do” campaign.

The campaign seeks answers as to why the culprits behind the assassinations of Dr Dabholkar along with Govind Pansare and Prof. M. M. Kalburgi have not been brought to justice even after four years of committing the crime. Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti has been fighting to bring the assailants to the books.

Dabholkar and his work

Hailing from Satara, Maharashtra, Narendra Dabholkar was a medical practitioner for almost 12 years. It was in the 1980s that he turned towards social work and in 1989 formed the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti.

The Samiti aimed at fighting superstitions and blind faith among the common people. It dedicated its time in confronting dubious tantriks and claimed holy men who promised ‘miracle cures’ for ailments.

Dabholkar was also working for the upliftment of Dalits and curbing the caste-based violence perpetrated against them.

On 2010, Dabholkar pushed for the need of an anti-superstition law, which finally came into force in December 2013.

However, he was brutally murdered by two bike-borne assailants in Pune on 20 August 2013, while he was out on his morning walk. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which, along with the Special Investigation Team appointed by the state government, has named Virendra Tawde, Sarang Akolkar, and Vinay Pawar of the Sanatan Sanstha, a right-wing Hindu group, as prime suspects in the case.

While Tawde was arrested by the CBI in June 2016, Akolkar and Pawar are absconding. The CBI has maintained that it was Akolkar and Pawar who shot Dabholkar dead.

In March 2017, the CBI announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh for information on Akolkar and Pawar, but no headway has been made in this case.

The Logical Indian contacted Narendra Nayak, a well-known rationalist, intellectual, and Godman debunker from Mangalore, Karnataka, about the current situation of the Dabholkar case. He said, “The way the investigations are going on, it is clear that it was a very well-planned plot and it has been executed by professional killers. A few weeks back, in a conference in Goa, the Sanatan Sanstha had mentioned they are always at loggerheads with the rationalists. It is evident that vested political interests are the reason behind the murder.”

Dabholkar’s family is distraught with the pace at which the investigation is going on and have expressed deep resentment over the failure of the state machinery to catch the killers. Hamid Dabholkar opined that it was not only the murder of the rationalists like that of his father, Kalburgi and Pansare that is alarming – it needs to be realised that these killings are conspiracies to kill free speech that raises voice against dogmas.

The Logical Indian urges the concerned authorities to look into the matter and ensure proper investigation so that justice is meted out to the deserved.

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Partner Story

Even at 76, Pradip Burman, the zestful chairman of Mobius Foundation radiates a contagious enthusiasm when he is talking about sustainability. The environmental crusader, better known to many as the great-grandson of Dabur founder Dr S.K.Burman, has devoted substantial attention towards promoting the concept of sustainability in all aspects of life. He refuses to conform to the convenience and comfort in today’s world which ultimately adds on to the adverse effects of climate change.

Talking to The Logical Indian, Burman emphasised why sustainability as a concept is indispensable for us. “We ought to be aware of what lies ahead of us. Soon we will finish the oil, iron, tin, and coal, and our next generations will be left with nothing. Recycling, banning plastics, stop felling trees for paper… This should become a part of everyone’s lifestyle,” he urges.

Mr Burman watering a sapling at the tree plantation drive organised by his non-profit Mobius Foundation

Traditional wisdom and modern research

A mechanical engineer from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, Burman had always nurtured a keen interest in helping the society, as evident from his graduation project of designing a sonic aid for the visually challenged, which detected obstacles in the way using ultrasonic wave signals.

As an executive for the nature-centric company Dabur, Burman has always opted for natural alternatives to solve his everyday problems like taking Ayurvedic medicine to cure his Arthritis. He later launched the veterinary wing for Dabur – Ayurvet – which provides nature-friendly solutions for animal health care.

A patron of the ancient scientific wisdom of India, Burman always hailed the confluence of “traditional knowledge and modern research”, which he advocated as the Ayurvet motto.

Ayurvet is one of the best ventures by Mr Burman

As part of the CSR initiative of Dabur, Pradip Burman founded SUNDESH (Sustainable Development Society) which has been tirelessly working for last 25 years in remote villages for uplifting the rural communities in an environmentally sustainable way.

An advocate of sustainability

Burman believes that sustainability is the indispensable mantra for the world at present. Due to uncontrolled utilisation of the planet’s resources by human beings, the world today stands at a juncture of destabilisation. Today the human race has reached the pinnacle of progress but the advancement is happening in a very unsustainable manner.

Through energy-efficient use of everyday essentials like transport, communication, altered habits of diet, clothing and daily living, some crusaders of sustainability try to reduce their carbon footprint. Pradip Burman’s Mobius Foundation is one of the forerunners toward sustainability goals.

Mobius Foundation aims to change the sustainability dynamics

In 2015, Burman paved the way for the start of Mobius Foundation, focused on sustainability. Named after 18th-century German mathematician August Ferdinand Mobius, the famous Mobius strip has an important philosophical significance. The extraordinary shape symbolises balance and union.

Similar is the essence of Mobius Foundation which wishes to enhance the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” principle to a widespread basis in India, helping generations to come.

Founder Pradip Burman wishes to achieve notable development in education, population stabilisation and renewable energy projects.

A dream school in the making

At Coorg, Pradip Burman’s Mobius Foundation is constructing the World Environment School, Coorg (WESc) where the curriculum will surpass the boundaries of books and classrooms, with a special focus on hands-on learning in close collaboration with the environment. Amidst the pristine natural beauty of Coorg, the school will nurture young minds to grow up into future green leaders. As of now, the school will be open to teenagers, welcoming students from standards 6 to 12.

Needless to say, World Environment School will be the first-of-its-kind not only in India but also in entire South Asia. The school is expected to start from March 2020.

The school promises to nurture the responsible behaviour of citizens of our future.

The Sustainability Conference of 2019

In 2019, the Mobius Foundation has planned an international conference, on the lines of the celebrated earth summits over the past decade. The 2019 International Conference on Sustainability Education (ICSE 2019) aims to bring together environmental activists, practitioners of sustainable development as well as climate change experts to help develop a sustainability-focused curriculum.

It is surmised that the conference will give a platform to innovative concepts of Sustainability Education including an essential change in the existing education system ensuring a wholesome personal development for a student.

The Sustainability crusader

The Mobius founder strongly believes that it is high time to sprout sustainability awareness among a society drowning in consumerism and unknowingly doing irreparable harm to the planet, every second. The best way to achieve this goal is through education which is available to all. At present, the education system is predominantly career-oriented, making the learners a victim of materialism, and thus, their dreams are also outlined in those colours.

Living beyond the limits

When asked about his wish to attain the age of hundred, he strongly asserts that more than becoming a centurion, he wishes his life and work continue to better the society even in his absence. “I have lived my life. I wish that whatever I start before I go, will continue – for the betterment of my country,” says Mr Pradip Burman.

He is also a trustee of the Climate Reality Project – India (affiliated to Mr. Al Gore of the Climate Reality Project Foundation, USA). Climate Reality Project, India, has been actively engaged igniting the spark and spreading the message of climate change amongst educators, policy makers and civil society. The India branch looks after more than 500 trained Climate Leaders, and more than 900 volunteers spread all over the country.

In his journey, Pradip Burman has been a beacon of hope for millions, motivating many to join the movement for sustainability. We wish he continues his tireless efforts for promoting sustainability awareness and inspire generations to come.